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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 
Joseph  p.  Loeb 


n   oKJv>JV, 


■^c 


PIETRO    OF   SIENA 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK    •    BOSTON   •    CHICAGO 
ATLANTA  •    SAN   FRANCISCO 

*       MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  Limited 

LONDON  •  BOMBAY  •  CALCUTTA 

MELBOURNE 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA,  Ltd. 

TORONTO 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA 


A   DRAMA 


BY 


STEPHEN    PHILLIPS 

AUTHOR    OF   "ULYSSES" 
"THE   SIN    OF   DAVID,"   ETC. 


THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 
1910 

AH  rights  reserved 


Copyright,  1910, 
By  the  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 

Set  up.  electrotyped,  and  published  Octobef,  1910. 


:ii[oTtooot)  ?3U38 

J.  S.  Gushing  Co.  -  Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 

Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


PR 


CHARACTERS 


PlETRO   TORKIELLI 

luigi  gonzaga 
Antonio 

MONTANO 

Anselmo 

GlACOMO 

An  Kxecutioner 

PULCI 

Carlo 

Gemma  Gonzaga 

fulvia  tornielli 
Caterina 


( Head  of  the  ancient  and  exiled  house 
I     of  Tornielli 

{ Head  of  the  rival  and  reigning  house 
\     of Gonzaga 
Podesta  of  Siena 

Boon   Companion    and   Jackal   to 

Pietro 
An  Aged  Warrior  devoted  to  the 

Tornielli 
Jailor  of  the  Stale  Prison 


'Personal  friends  of  Luigi 

Sister  to  Luigi 
Sister  to  Pietro 
An  Aged  Nurse  devoted  to  Gonzaga 


Officers,  Messengers,  etc. 

The  action  of  the  play  is  confined  to  Siena  and  lies 
.between  the  hours  of  sunset  and  sunrise. 


^45359 


ACT  I 

SUNSET 


PIETRO    OF    SIENA 

ACT  I 

Scene.  —  The  great  hall  of  the  ancient  palace 
oj  the  Gonzaga.  At  either  end  stand  armed 
sentries.  In  the  centre  is  the  judgement  chair. 
On  the  rising  of  the  curtain  furious  shouts  are 
heard  without,  and  grow  louder  at  times  as 
from  an  approaching  multitude,  and  the 
besieging  army  of  Pietro.  Luigi  is  dis- 
covered striding  to  and  fro  in  great  perplexity. 
His  friend  PuLCi  is  watching  him  earnestly. 
The  time  is  sunset. 

PuLCi.    Luigi,  go  forth,  and  show  thyself 
at  last ! 


4  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Still  the  gate  holds ;    though  Pietro  Tornielli 
Three   times   in   vain   hath   shaken  it  —  Go 

forth ! 
He  makes  enough  of  clamour  and  of  din; 
Thou  liest  like  a  rat,  unseen,  unheard  ; 
Whom  can  we  fight  for,  or  for  what?     Go 
forth  ! 
LuiGi.     No,   Pulci,  no !    Pietro  Tornielli 
Advancing  takes  the  wind  from  all  my  sails. 
He  cows  me  from  afar,  and  quells  my  spirit, 
I  know  not  why  or  how  ;  but  I  am  quelled. 
Like  English  Richard  before  BoHngbroke. 
It  is  not  that  he  hath  more  wit  than  I, 
It  is  not  that  he  hath  more  will  than  I ; 
Only  that  on  this  man  success  attends. 
Where  I  am  foiled  and  thwarted,  he  goes  free. 


TIETRO  OF  SIENA  5 

Such    men    there    are,    and  what   they  will, 

they  grasp.  [A  louder  uproar  without. 

PuLCi.     This  is   the   sophistry    that   fears 

to  act. 
LuiGi.     [Pausing.]    Think    with    what    in- 
juries this  man  comes  armed: 
He  comes  not  merely  to  supplant  my  rule, 
To  seat  himself  where  I  so  long  have  sat, 
But  furious  memory  smoulders  at  his  heart. 
Did  not  our  father  bear  his  mother  off. 
And  use  her  for  his  lust  ?  his  father  pined  ; 
And  kept  a  dreadful  silence  till  he  died. 
With    all    these    memories    this    man    comes 

fraught, 
And  thunders  an  avenger  at  our  gate. 

[A  sentinel  rushes  in  from  the  left. 


6  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Sentinel.    The  gate  has  been  surrendered  ; 
they  swarm  in ; 
And  hither  are  they  making  with  loud  cry! 
[A  cry  louder  and  nearer.    Enter  Gemma 
GoNZAGA,    hurriedly   and   terrified,   the 
nurse  Caterina  limping  behind. 
Gemma.    Luigi,   what   can   I   do   in    this 
dark  hour? 
How  aid  and  comfort  ?    Send  me  not  away ! 
For  thou  and  I  have  grown  together  so 
We  may  not  be  divided  but  with  blood. 
Your  hopes,  your  thoughts  are  mine ;   your 

frailties  mine. 
Brother,  let  me  be  near  thee  in  the  storm. 
I  claim  its  lightnings  and  its  thunder  clasp. 
Ah,  send  me  not  away  !     I  put  my  arms 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  ^ 

About  you  as  of  old  :  now  come  what  will. 

[Sound  as  of  door  below  broken  open. 
LuiGi.     Sister,  they  come  !     This    scene    is 
not  for  thee  : 
Go  then  within  and  quietly  ;  I  alone 
Must    sl;and    upright  against    the    towering 
wave. 

[Exit  Gemma  and  Caterina. 
[Soldiers  enter  and  are  drawn  up  along 
the  walls  of  the  hall.     Then  enter  the 
Mayor   Antonio,   surrounded   by   citi- 
zens   of  Siena,    a    Priest,   and,    lastly, 
PiETRO,  his  sister  Fulvia  following  him. 
PiETRO.     Luigi    Gonzaga,    I    might    well 
have  stormed 
Siena  gate  with  fiery  memories 


8  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

And  with  the  sword  of  vengeance  sought  thee 

out. 
Thy  father  with  hot  hps  kissed  out  the  soul 
Of  her  that  bore  me,  and  my  father  broke 
Down  to  the  ground  and  wrapped  in  mortal 

shame. 
I  say,  Gonzaga,  that  I  bear  enough 
Of  private  injury  to  spill  thy  blood. 
On  no  such  crimson  errand  am  I  sped, 
But  summoned  by  Siena's  citizens, 
Here  to  resume  the  sovereignty  possessed 
Erst  by  the  Tornielli :  and  to  purge 
The  city  of  thee  and  thy  iniquities. 

[He  ascends  the  judgement  chair,  motioning 
to  Antonio. 
Now  read  aloud  the  charges  'gainst  this  man. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  9 

Antonio.  [Reading].  "It  is  here  charged 
against  thee,  Luigi  Gonzaga,  that  thou  hast 
taken  bribes  to  set  aside  the  course  of  justice, 
whereof  many  instances  can  be  proven. 
Further  :  that  thou  hast  surrounded  thee  with 
a  troop  of  desperate  malcontents  whom  thou 
hast  paid  and  used  for  purposes  of  private 
quarrel.  Moreover,  that  two  famous  enemies 
of  thine  thou  hast  by  poison  taken  off,  having 
bidden  them  to  supper  here  in  this  palace. 
That  thou  hast  ofifered  to  spare  the  life  of 
Paolo  Gerli  if  his  daughter  would  deliver 
herself  to  thee  for  purposes  of  lust ;  though 
this  man  had  been  condemned  by  public 
tribunal  over  which  thou  didst  thyself 
preside.     And   many   other   counts  are   here 


lo  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

set  down  against  thee,  but  for  the  moment 
let  these  suffice." 

PiETRO.     Luigi  Gonzaga,  what  hast  thou 
to  say  ? 

Luigi.     All  that  is  charged  against  me  I 
confess. 

PiETRO.     Then,  for  these  violent  ills  a  vio- 
lent cure 
Demand,  and  a  swift,  instant  medicine  — 
I,  Pietro  Tornielli,  summoned  here 
To  adjudicate  upon  Siena's  wrong, 
Hereby  pronounce  upon  thee  doom  of  death  ! 
And  since  delays  in  these  distracted  streets 
Were  perilous  :  to-morrow  thou  shalt  die. 

[Writing.]     I,  Pietro  Tornielli,  called  by  the 
people  of  Siena  to  heal  the  breach  and  woe  of 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  ii 

the  city,  do  hereby  commit  Luigi  Gonzaga, 
sometime  ruler  of  Siena,  to  prison  this  night 
to  the  intent  that  at  sunrise  to-morrow  he 
may  be  executed.     Given  by  me  this  day. 

PlETRO   TORNIELLI. 

Luigi.  '  At  sunrise  !    Ah,  not  death  !    Ah, 
not  so  soon  ! 
Let  me'  still  watch  the  sun  thro'  prison  bars, 
And  manacled  behold  the  rising  moon. 
Ah,  send  me  not  from  glory  to  the  grave. 
I  promise  in  my  cell  I  will  not  stir 
All  day,  and  will  not  speak  even  to  myself, 
Or  murmur  an  angry  word  until  my  death  ; 
Ah,  hold  me.  Sir,  in  prison  till  I  die. 
How  can  I  trouble  thee  ;  none  breaks  away 
Or  bursts  that  massy  fortress.     Can  I  lead 


12  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Rebellion,  fettered  fast  and  deep  immured  ? 
Deliver  me  to  long  imprisonment ! 
Or  banish  me  an  exile  from  the  shore 
Of  Italy  for  ever  :  Let  me  roam 
The  limits  of  the  world  and  utmost  isles. 
Only  I  pray  thee  let  me  breathe  !    To  go 
For  ever  from  the  sun  !    I  care  not  what 
Of  heavy  misery  or  imprisonment 
Thou  mayest  inflict  if  only  I  may  live. 

[He  breaks  into  sobs. 
PiETRO.    Luigi  Gonzaga,  freely  thou  hast 
drunk 
The  purple  cup  of  life  ;  now  not  to  wince, 
To  beat  the  breast,  befits  thee  in  this  hour. 
Sweet  was  the  draught,  now  fling  the  cup 
away ! 


PIETRO   OF  SIENA  13 

And  having  richly  lived,  so  strongly  die. 
Bear  him  away. 

LuiGi.  Sir  !     Sir  ! 

PiETRO.  Bear  him  away  ! 

fLuiGi  is  taken  of  between  two  guards,  four 
others  following. 

PiETRO.     [Rising.]     Now   for   the  moment 

nothing  more  detains  us. 
Anselmo.    [Coming  fortvard.]    Sir,  this  man 
whom  you  have  dispatched  to  die, 
A  sister  has  ;  and  though  the  rabble  rise 
Against  the  brother  for  his  many  crimes, 
She  may  untouched  through  all  Siena  pass, 
For  she  is  beautiful  and  still  and  pure. 
She  is  a  greater  peril  than  the  man, 


14  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

And  while  she  lives,  thy  throne  will  tremble 
still. 
PiETRO.     Is  she  within  the  palace  ? 
An  Attendant.  Sir,  she  is. 

PiETRO.     Send  for  her  hither. 

[Exit  Attendant. 
Anselmo.  In  this  warrant  add 

To  Luigi  Gemma,  to  the  brother's  name 
The  sister  ;  so  we  root  out  the  whole  house, 
No  son  nor  daughter  of  Gonzaga  lives 
Save  these;  then  make  an  end  and  sit  secure. 
[Enter  Gemma  escorted  hy  Attendants. 
PiETRO.     Art  thou  the  sister  of  Gonzaga  — 

say ! 
Gemma.    I  am,  Sir. 
PiETRO.    He  hath  been  so  deeply  charged 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  15 

With  public  crime  and  private  injury. 
That  I,  called  in  to  judge  and  to  pronounce, 
To  prison  have  committed  him,  that  he 
May  die  to-morrow  at  sunrise. 

Gemma.  Ah,  no ! 

Ah,  do  not  slay  him.     Wonderful  has  been 
The  love  between  us  —  and  so  soon  to  die  ! 
Why,  he  hath  but  a  few  brief  hours  to  pray ; 
To  reconcile  him  with  eternal  God, 
Only  the  transit  of  a  summer  night. 
Oh,  Sir,  at  least  be  merciful  to  me  ! 
And  send  me  to  him  that  I  too  may  die. 
Let  me  not  wither  out  this  hollow  world 
Alone  ;  but  in  that  warrant  add  my  name 
To  his  ;  for  all  his  frailties  I  defend, 
In  all  his  acts  I  am  associate. 


i6  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

I  would  give  up  the  very  ghost  in  me, 
And  my  dear  soul  would  put  in  pawn  for  him. 
Then  by  the  same  blow  let  the  sister  fall ! 
I  crave  to  die  with  the  first  light  of  dawn. 
Ah,  separate  us  not,  here  I  beseech  thee  ! 

[She  throws  herself  at  his  feet. 
Anselmo.     Enough  !    By  her  own  mouth 

she  merits  death. 
PiETRO.     [With  slow  hesitation.]    I  cannot 
—  for  the  moment  —  well  decide. 
[Angry  murmurs  from  Anselmo's  troops. 
That  I  have  doomed  her  brother  is  no  cause 
Why  her  too  I  should  doom  !    Is  it  supposed 
A  maiden,  but  a  year  ago  a  child. 
Could  of  his  crimes  and  bribes  be  cognizant  ? 
I  ask  you  all  —  were  it  not  well  to  pause  ? 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  17 

To  pause  for  a  few  hours,  and  hesitate 

Finally  to  pronounce  ?     What  thou  hast  said, 

Anselmo,  I  doubt  not  is  wise,  but  I 

A  little  leisure  must  demand  in  this. 

Lead  her  away  !        [To  Gemma.]    Ere  dawn 

thou  shalt  receive 
My  judgement.    [She  is  escorted  within]    Now, 
Sirs,  I  should  be  alone. 
[Exeunt  all  hut  Anselmo,   Girolamo, 
FuLViA,  and  Montano. 
Anselmo.     Sir,  if  this  foolish  mercy  to  the 
house 
Which  hath  so  deeply  wronged  you,  be  dis- 
played, 
I  cannot  pledge  me  for  these  faithful  bands 

That  hitherto  have  followed  your  wild  star, 
c 


i8  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Sparing  his  sister's  life,  you  but  ascend 

A  trembling  throne,  for  men  who  hated  him 

Will  rally  to  her  face  as  to  a  flag. 

Ah,  God  !  'tis  the  old  weakness  of  the  blood. 

What  stopped  us  at  Ancona  ?  what  made  vain 

The  long  siege  of  Perugia?    Evermore 

A  woman's  face  hath  foiled  us.     Now  I  speak 

Once,  and  no  more.     Thy  followers  will  fall  off 

Being  again  deceived  ;  much  have  they  borne, 

But  more  they  will  not  bear. 

[Sullen  murmurs  are  heard. 

Strike  down  the  house, 

Strike  to  the  root  and  ere  the  night  be  passed. 

[Exit  Anselmo,  who  is  acclaimed   by  the 

troops  awaiting  him. 

GiROLAMO.     [Advancing.]    Pietro  Tornielli ! 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  19 

Thus  saith  Rome  : 
Let  none  of  the  Gonzaga  house  be  spared  ! 
Nor  man  nor  woman  :  end  the  pestilence 
That  brooded  o'er  Siena  all  these  years. 
If  thou  wouldst  rule  secure,  blot  out  the  brood 
That  are  anathema  to  Holy  Church  ! 
If  a  fair  face  can  shake  thee  from  thy  seat, 
Look  not  to  Rome  !    Rather  be  thou  of  Rome 
Outlawed,  accursed.     So  speak  I,  and  depart. 
[Exit  GiROLAMO  with  attendant  Priests. 
FuLViA.     [Approaching  Pietro.]      Brother, 

what  hath  been  said  by  Holy  Church, 
Or  by  Anselmo  speaking  for  the  State, 
Is  well,  and  well  enough.     I  am  a  woman, 
And  cannot  easily  forget  the  shame 
Wrought  on  our  mother  by  their  father  ;  now 


20  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Comes  in  revenge  though  late,  and  justice  too. 

These  are  his    children,  his;    the  man  who 
wronged 

Her,  and  brought  down  our  father  to  his  grave. 

He  hath  left  issue  luckily,  for  us 

To  dash  our  ire  on,  let  his  children  die! 

Not  one,  but  both.     Have  we  not  waited  long  ? 

Have  I  not  in  my  pillow  set  my  teeth 

Through  the  grim  night  to  stop  these  mem- 
ories ? 
But  here  they  are  delivered  to  our  hands. 
Hast  thou  forgot  thy  mother's  desperate  death, 
Hast  thou  forgot  the  pining  of  thy  Sire  ? 
Here  with  one  blow  we  clear  us  before  God 
That  she  in  that  sea-tomb  no  longer  toss 
Unsatisfied  ;  nor  he  call  from  the  ground. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  21 

Art  thou  the  victim  of  a  passing  face, 
Art  thou  the  helpless  spoil  of  shadowed  eyes  ? 
Art  thou  a  man,  or  but  a  drifting  leaf, 
Unworthy  to  be  served  or  followed  or  loved  ? 
If  that  pale  face  can  turn  thee  from  thy  wrongs, 
Or  a  low  voice  make  all  thy  vengeance  vain  ? 
I  leave  thee  therefore  to  the  blood  of  the  dead. 
This  must  thou  expiate  and  swift  and  sure. 

[Exit  FuLviA. 

PiETRO.     Give  me  some  wine,   Montano  ! 
Oh,  Montano, 
The  fever's  in  my  blood  and  must  have  vent. 

Montano.    WTiat  fever  ? 

PiETRO.  For  a  face  a  moment  since 

Sprung  like  a  sudden  splendour  on  the  dusk, 
Now  vanished  ;  for  a  voice  that  stole  on  us 


22  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Like  Strings  from  planets  dreaming  in  faint 

skies, 
With  a  low  pleaded  music  ;  for  a  form 
Slight  and  a  little  bending  over  in  dew. 
This  night,  Montano,  in  this  coming  dark 
I  must  possess  her  ;  for  I  shall  not  sleep. 
Knowing  her  breathing  sweet  so  near  to  me, 
Here  in  this  palace  ;  no  !  nor  shall  I  drowse 
Until  I  clasp  her  fast  and  kisses  rain 
Upon  her  lips,  her  eyes,  her  brow,  her  hair. 
Montano.    Sir,  you  well  know  I  serve  your 
every  mood, 
But  here,  is  not  the  game  too  perilous  ? 
Here  on  the  very  first  night  of  your  rule 
To  seize  Gonzaga's  sister,  he  meanwhile 
Purposely  prisoned  —  ah,  so  they  will  say  — 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  23 

So  that  he  may  not  mar,  nor  intervene. 
Let  policy  propose  some  slower  way. 

PiETRO.    No  !    No  !     Such  beauty  must  be 
stormed,  not  snared, 
Caught  up  and  kissed  into  oblivion, 
To  saddle  hoist,  and  through  the  world  away. 

MoNTANO.     I  scent  a  way  by  which  she 
might  be  won 
And  without  force,  and  on  this  very  night. 

PiETRo.     How  ?    how  ? 

MoNTANO.        Her  brother  Luigi  at  sunrise 
To-morrow,  perishes  ;  now  he  to  her 
Is  more  than  just  a  brother  ;  they  have  Hved 
Even  from  the  cradle  a  life  intertwined. 
Remember  but  the  burning  words  of  her ! 
"  I  would  give  up  the  very  ghost  of  me, 


24  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

And  my  dear  soul  would  put  in  pawn  for 
him." 

PiETRO.     Well  —  well  — 

MoNTANO.     The  dawn  will  come  soon,  all 
too  soon 
For  her  ;  but  were  it  breathed  into  her  ear, 
That  for  her  beauty  thou  wouldst  spare  his  life, 
Would  not  her  deep  love  to  thy  arms  consent  ? 
As  slowly  all  the  sky  grows  lighter  still. 
And  Luigi's  blood  is  on  the  morning  cloud, 
Will  she  not  for  her  brother  give  herself 
To  thee,  and  in  thy  clasp  forget  the  dawn  ? 

PiETRO.     See,  see  her  ;  with  the  nurse  have 
first  a  word. 
That  she  may  sound  her  warily.     But  haste  ! 
Darkness  already  closes  on  us  two, 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  25 

And  if  I  have  my  will  'twill  be  ere  dawn. 
Speed,  speed  away,  Montano,  be  thou  swift ! 
And  I  with  every  flower  will  fill  the  room, 
With  fume  of  liHes  and  raptures  of  the  rose, 
And  odours  that  entice  the  drowsing  brain, 
And  faf-oflF  music  melting  on  the  soul. 
At  once  away  till  thou  hast  news  of  her. 

[Exit  Montano. 
Come,  night,  and  falhng  give  her  to  my  arms. 
What  fools  are  they  that  use  thee  but  for  sleep  ; 
Come  and  enfold  us  in  the  dark  of  bliss  ! 


ACT   II 

MIDNIGHT 


SCENE   I 

Scene.  —  Midnight.  A  dark  part  of  the  gar- 
dens of  the  palace;  various  followers  of 
Anselmo  assembled  with  torches.  To  them 
enter  Anselmo  with  four  followers,  also 
carrying  torches. 

Anselmo.     Comrades,  to  this  dark  garden, 

and  in  night 
I  have  swiftly  summoned  you :    you  all  well 

know 

That  I  have  followed  Tornielli's  star, 

Howe'er  it  wavered  in  the  heavens  ;  and  you 

How  often  have  I  led  to  the  desperate  breach, 

29 


30  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Or  to  that  timely  charge  which  all  decides. 

And  yet  you  can  recall  that  oftentimes 

Here  were  we  foiled,  or  here :   and  this  the 


cause, 


Ever  a  woman's  face  Pietro  marred. 

The  weakness  in  his  blood  undid  our  toil. 

Now  at  Siena,  crown  of  all  our  hopes, 

And  destined  to  the  TornieUi  rule. 

When  vengeance  is  demanded,  he  falls  short ; 

And  cannot  Hft  his  hand  against  the  face, 

Too  beautiful,  of  Luigi's  sister.     Him 

Easily  he  condemned  to  die  at  dawn. 

Yet  he  would  not  complete  the  task  imposed. 

He  wavers  through  the  night,  and  will  not  act. 

Now  none  hath  been  more  faithful  to  his  star 

Than  I,  but  I  that  star  will  follow  not 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  31 

If  at  the  supreme  hour  we  must  be  fooled. 
You  as  you  please  will  act :  but  now  no  more 
Lean  upon  me  to  lead  you  as  of  old. 
A  Soldier.     I  will  speak  bolder  than  our 

Captain.     What 
If  he  sht>uld  be  persuaded  by  this  girl 
To  spare  the  brother's  life  ?     [Angry  murmurs.] 

How  do  we  stand  ? 
Were  ever  soldiers  on  such  errand  fooled  ? 
I  say  that  on  this  very  night,  perhaps, 
While  here  we  stand,  she  hath  persuaded  him 
To  cancel  the  decree  of  death  at  dawn. 
So  is  our  march,  our  battery,  our  spoil 
Made  vain  for  ever  :  who  henceforth  will  trust 
A  ruler  palpably  to  beauty  weak, 
At  mercy  of  red  lips  and  drooping  eyes  ? 


32  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Shall  this  man  rule  Siena  ?     Never  man 

In  all  Siena  will  to  this  consent. 

Pietro  Tornielli  can  fight  well, 

Is  not  in  courage  backward,  but  this  fault 

Will  leave  him  unsupported  and  alone. 

[Angry  shouts  and  murmurs. 
Anselmo.     Friends,  let  us  see  what  darkness 
brings  to  light, 
If  then  my  apprehension  be  revealed, 
Or  worse,  our  comrades'  fear  ;  at  least  at  dawn 
Let  us  assemble  here  :   with  knowledge  then 
We  our  own  way  can  take,  e'en  tho'  it  be 
To  assault  the  palace  and  slay  Pietro.     Speak  ! 
Is  this  agreed  ?     [Shouts.    All  drawing  swords. 
Anselmo,  'tis  agreed. 
[The  scene  closes.] 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  33 

SCENE  II 

Scene.  —  An  inner  room  of  the  palace;  with 
a  door  communicating  with  a  further  room, 
which  is  closed.  A  lamp  is  burning  on 
the  table.  The  old  nurse  Caterina  is 
seated  near  the  window  with  bowed  head  and 
in  deep  grief.  A  knock  is  heard  at  the  door. 
She  hobbles  toward  it,  and  opening  it  admits 

MONTANO. 

MoNTANO.     Signora  Caterina  ? 
Caterina.  That  is  I. 

MoNTANO.      I   see    that   you    are    broken 
down  with  grief. 
Give  me  your  hand.  [Be  leads  her  to  a  seat. 

The  reason  of  these  tears 


34  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Is  easily  guessed.     Luigi  Gonzaga  dies 
With  the  first  flush  of  day.    This  is  the  cause  ? 
Caterina.     Ah,  sir,  if  my  own  son  had  then 

to  die 
I  could  not  suffer  more.     I  have  no  son ; 
But  he  took  on  him  all  the  unborn  child, 
That  never  quickened  in  the  might  have  been. 
I  have  watched  him  as  a  gardener  does  a 

flower, 
And  seen  him  slowly  grow  into  his  strength. 
Ah,  who  can  say  I  had  not  pangs  from  him. 
What  he  hath  done  I  know  not  to  deserve 
So  swift  a  death  ;  only  that  he  must  die 
I  know.  [She  breaks  again  into  sobs. 

MoNTANO.     You  know  not  yet.     I  bring 

a  hope. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  35 

Caterina.     Oh,  that  he  may  be  saved,  may 
be  released  ! 
Sir,  do  not  trifle  with  a  soul  so  old, 
Or  play  with  cracking  heart-strings  ! 

MoNTANO.  I  will  not. 

I  come  from  Pietro  Tornielli  straight. 
Where  is  your  mistress  ? 

Caterina.  Dumb,  and  as  the  dead, 

Within  she  sits,  fixed  on  the  coming  day. 
MoNTANO.     She,  she  alone  can  save  him  if 

she  will. 
Caterina.     [Stumbling  to  inner  door.]    Ah, 

Gemma,  Gemma  ! 
MoNTANO.     [Taking  her  arm.]    Peace,  and 
sit  you  down. 
To  you  I'll  tell  the  terms  of  his  release. 


36  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

You  then  to  her  ;  and  she  shall  then  decide. 
Caterina.     Terms  !  but  there  are  no  terms 
She  will  not  give. 
Life  even  ! 

MoNTANO.     Perhaps  a  harder  thing  is  asked, 
Caterina.     Harder  than  life  !    What  is  so 

dear  as  breath  ? 
Montano.     To  a  woman  one  thing  only. 

[A  pause. 

Caterina.  Still  I  grope 

In  darkness.     What  can  Gemma  give  more 

dear 
Than  very  life  ? 
Montano.         More  dear  ?  her  very  soul. 
Caterina.     I  seem  to  guess  more  clearly 
now.     You  mean  — 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  37 

MoNTANO.     I  mean  —  for  the  night  passes, 
and  already 
Is  little  time  for  words  —  Lord  Tornielli 
Will  spare  the  life  of  Luigi  but  to  hold 
His  sister  in  his  arms  this  very  night. 
Am  I  now  plain  enough  ? 

Caterina.  Aye  —  plain  enough! 

Had  it  been  life  — 

MoNTANO.  It  is  not  life  he  asks. 

Caterina.     Oh,  what  a  dreadful  choice  ! 

MoNTANO.  Yet  on  these  terms, 

And  these  alone  can  Luigi's  life  be  spared. 

Caterina.     She  will  not  do  it,  never,  never, 
never ! 

MoNTANO.     Still  lay  the  chance  before  her: 
see  you  how 


38  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Already  the  stars  pale  ;  the  time  is  short. 
He  from  his  dungeon  watches  how  they  pale. 
You  as  a  woman  to  another  may, 
With  what  authority  and  wisdom  else 
May  prompt,  disclose,  and  may  at  last  per- 
suade. 
I'll  leave  you  to  her  —  then  I  will  return 
To  know  her  verdict  on  her  brother's  life. 

[Going,  then  returning. 
Remember  paling  stars  and  coming  sun  ! 

[Exit  MONTANO. 

Caterina.     Ah,  God  !  must  I,  this  old  and 
shrunken  voice 
Use  to  persuade  her  white  soul  to  this  act  ? 
She  hath  been  filled  with  pity  for  the  fallen. 
Yet  with  that  pity  hath  so  loathed  the  cause. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  39 

So  innocent  and  yet  so  understanding, 

She  hath  been  so  gentle  to  those  sinners,  yet 

Sick  with  abhorrence  but  to  think  their  sin. 

But,  Luigi,  any  sacrifice  for  thee  ! 

Gemma,  my  child,  Gemma.     [SJie  goes  to  door. 

I  must  have  word 
A  moment  with  you. 
[Enter  Gemma  white  and  with  a  fixed  movement. 

One  has  left  me  but 
A  moment,  who  brought  word  from  Tornielli. 
Gemma.     No  word  can  ever  reach  my  ear 

but  one, 
And   that  one   "death,"   "death,"   "death" 

for  evermore. 
Caterina.     Gemma,  sit  here,  and  I  will 

kneel  and  lay 


40  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

My  old  face  in  your  lap. 

Gemma.  As  I  how  oft 

Have  laid  my  face,  old  nurse,  down  in  your 

lap, 
Dreaming,  to  hear  thee  tell  of  fairyland. 
But,  ah,  no  fairyland  is  with  us  now  ! 
But    life,    how    grey    and    cruel  —  ah,    and 
death! 
Caterina.    Do   not   start   from   me,   nor 
fall  swooning  down, 
At  that  I  have  to  say  —  Luigi  — 

Gemma.  O  listen ! 

Do  you  not  hear  the  stones  down  on  him 
falling  ? 
Caterina.     It  is  not  yet  resolved  that  he 
shall  die. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  41 

Gemma.     What,  what !     Have    I   gripped 
your  arm  too  fast  ?     Yet  speak  ! 
This  is  some  foolish  comfort,  shallow  thought, 
To  ease  me  for  a  moment.     Why,  I  heard 
Pietro  Tornielli  —  and  to  me 
He  spol£e  —  declare  aloud  the  doom  of  death, 
Caterina.     He  did  so  ;  but  he  may  repent 

him  yet. 
Gemma.     But  what  hath  chanced  in  these 
brief  hours  to  change 
A  state  decree  ?     How  is  he  sudden  white 
Who    then    so    black    was,  —  hath    he    been 

re-tried 
All  in  a  moment?    Ah,  toy  not  with  hope. 
Caterina.     I  tell  you,  Luigi's  life  may  yet 
be  spared. 


42  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Gemma.     By  whom  then,  how  ?    Who  holds 

the  scales  so  fine  ? 
Caterina.     You  ! 
Gemma.     [Starting  up.]    I !    How  should  I 

save  him  ? 
Caterina.        Can  you  not 
A  little  guess  and  save  my  speech  o'er-rough  ? 
Did  you  not  mark  then  Tornielli's  glance  ? 
How  in  his  speech  he  stumbled,  while  on  you 
His  eyes  were  anchored?    how,  alarmed,  his 

host 
Cried  out  against  delay  and  for  thy  life  ? 
Gemma.     [Passing  her  hand  over  her  brow.] 

Yes,  I  remember  his  eyes  fixed  on  me. 
Caterina.     Now  can  you  not  conceive,  and 
realise  ? 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  43 

And  I  my  face  will  turn  away  from  you. 
Gemma.     Oh,    now    I    see,    and    but    this 

moment  since. 
I  have  gulped  down  such  a  draught  of  this 

world's  cup 
As  leaves  me  shivering,  and  to  wind  exposed. 
This  was  the  plan,  then  ;  like  a  beast,  not  man, 
He  would  ensnare  me  for  a  fleshy  hour, 
Baiting  the  trap  even  with  a  brother's  life. 
You  know,  my  Caterina,  well  you  know 
How  I  have  loved  my  brother.  If  'twere  death, 
That  I  would  gladly  suffer  ;  to  expire, 
And  lose  the  sweet  and  music  of  this  life, 
All  joy  for  ever  to  forego  —  for  him, 
Or  if  I  must  be  stabbed,  or  poisoned  —  yes. 
But  this  —  not  this  !     He  is  not  such  a  coward 


44  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

That  he  would  put  his  Hfe  into  the  scales 
Against  his  sister's  shame.     I  will  not  do  it. 
Oh,  all  the  stars  that  muster  in  the  heaven 
Would  cry  on  me  with  voices  like  to  beams, 
More  awful  in  their  silence  to  the  soul. 
I  tell  you,  No,  No  !      And  what  more  repels 
My  soul  is  this  —  a  trap  laid  for  my  soul, 
Again  I  say,  baited  with  brother's  blood  ! 
I  hate  this  man,  I  hate  the  mind  that  thought 
This  business  out,  this  trader  of  the  dark. 
This  burning  merchant  for  a  maiden's  soul. 
What  should  I  be,  old  Caterina,  what 
For  ever  and  for  ever  ?     They  who  went 
To  flame  for  faith,  they  went  not  for  this  cause. 
And  out  of  scorching  flesh  deserved  the  stars. 
The  girl  who  yields  beneath  a  summer  moon. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  45 

That  I  can  understand,  but  never  a  true  woman 
Made  bargain  with  her  body  such  as  this. 
There  is  my  answer,  now  and  for  all  time. 
Caterina.     Child,    though    I   know   what 

sickens  in  your  soul. 
Still,  when   all's   said   or    thought,   is't   not 

enough 
To  bring  back  Luigi  from  the  grave  ?    At  dawn 
Surely  he  dies.     I  as  a  woman  speak. 
Let  this  man  vent  his  riot ;  let  the  fool 
Have  his  hot  way,  and  suffer  his  embrace! 
Yours  is  the  laugh  by  daybreak,  and  for  ever. 
Think,  then,  of   Luigi  freed  !    The  world  is 

wrong, 
None  catch  perfection ;    save  your  brother's 

life, 


46  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Spending  an  hour  within  those  silly  arms  ! 
What  are  his  kisses,  if  the  grave  is  foiled  ? 
Gemma.     You,   you   persuade   me   to   it? 
You  who  nursed 
Both  of  us  ;  why  is  it,  then,  that  a  nurse  holds 
Dearer  the  boy  than  the  girl  ?    he  must  be 

spared, 
She  never ! 

Caterina.    What  you  do  you  do  not  do. 
Gemma.    Ah,  woman,  but  our  bodies  are 
our  souls ! 

[Enter  Montano. 
MoNTANO.    Ah,  Signorina?      Straightway 
from  my  lord, 
Pietro  Tornielli,  I  have  come. 
In  the  strong  hope  that  you  will  speak  to  him. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  47 

Gemma.     What   use    so    to    pretend,    and 
gloze  the  truth  ? 
You  know  well  why  this  gentleman  desires 
To  see  me  ;  on  this  errand  you  are  sent. 
Take  back  my  answer,  then  :  I  will  not  come. 
I  loved  and  love  my  brother,  but  he  must  die. 

MoNTANO.     Is  he  so  well  prepared  ?    And 
can  he  launch 
On  such  a  voyage  ?    WTiat  has  been  his  life  ? 
His  pubHc  faults  this  day  were  charged  on  him: 
None  of  them  he  denied.     His  private  lusts 
Are  through  Siena  sounded  pubhcly. 
You,  you  alone  cast  his  immortal  soul 
Before  the  conscious  Judge,  unripe  and  crude, 
You,  you  alone  can  stay  that  dread  assize. 

[The  hour  strikes  midnight. 


48  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

The  night  wears  out :   and  hearken  how  the 

gong 
With  solemn  syllables  divides  the  night ! 
He  hears  them  from  the  dungeon,  stroke  on 

stroke. 
What  is  thy  hour  to  his  eternity  ? 
Gemma.    Dead  mother,  tell  me  ! 
Caterina.  She  to  whom  you  cry 

Remember  was  his  mother  — 
Gemma.  I  will  come. 

[She  takes  down  an  old  dagger  from  the 
wall  and  hides  it  in  her  bosom  secretly. 
Caterina.    See,  let  me  set   this  red  rose 

on  your  breast. 
Gemma.    Yes,  yes,  it  is  the  colour  of  his 
blood. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  49 

[MoNTANO  motions  the  way  out  and  he 
and  Gemma  exeunt. 
Catertna,     Oh,  only  for  his  life !  for  the 
boy's  life ! 
Virgin  in  heaven,  forgive  me  if  I  sinned  ! 


SCENE   III 

Scene.  — Another  room  in  the  palace;  distant 
music  is  heard,  and  various  flowers  are  set 
about.  PiETRO,  turning  from  giving  di- 
rections, meets  Montano,  who  ushers  in 
Gemma,  then  immediately  retires. 

PiETRO.    Ah,  Signorina,  you  are  come  at 

last! 
Gemma.    I  have  come  as  one  adorned  for 
sacrifice, 
Nothing  omitted  ;   and  this  red  flower  see, 
The  symbol  of  a  brother's  blood  ! 
PiETRO.  ,  You  think 

Too  gravely. 

50 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  51 

Gemma.        Oh,  too  gravely  ? 
PiETRO.  We  must  take 

What  chance  we  can  when  beauty  is  the  goal. 
Gemma.     You  think,  then,  that  this  lure  is 
clever  ? 

PlETRO.      No. 
But    by  your  face    all    right   and   wrong   is 
dimmed. 
Gemma.     This  is  the  game ;    the  stakes,  a 
brother's  life 
And  a  girl's  soul;    w?"!  these,  then,  you  can 
play. 
PiETRO.   I  see  my  chance  but  as  a  gambler 

sees. 
Gemma.     You  play  with  loaded  dice,  and 
human  too. 


52  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Listen  !    I  have  come  here  to  give  myself 
To  you  to  snatch  a  brother's  life  ;  but  think  ! 
Do  I  now  for  a  moment  give  myself  ? 
I  give  you  ice  for  fire,  and  snow  for  flame ; 
Your   touch   I   loathe,    and   shudder   to   be 

touched ; 
Your  kisses  have  no  sweetness  but  for  him. 
I  but  endure,  and  listen  for  the  dawn  ; 
And  when  you  clasp  me   to  your   breast,  I 

see 
Behind  your  phantom  face  a  rising  sun. 
You  shadow !    murmur,  kiss,  do  what  you 

will, 
I  have  forgotten  you  for  evermore  ! 
You  ghost,  with  but  the  vantage  of  the  grave, 
O  lover  with  cold  murder  on  your  lips, 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  53 

Bridegroom  whose  gift  is  blood,  whose  dower 

is  death  ! 
Ah,  what  a  tryst !    What  moonlight  ever  saw 
Such  a  forbidden  rapture  as  is  this  ? 
Then  take  me  in  your  arms,  but  never  me  ! 
Or  kiss  these  lips  where  lips  have  ceased  to 

move. 
Fool,  can  you  understand  in  your  wild  blood 
That  never  shall  you  reach  me  on  these  terms  ? 
How  can  you  drink  my  beauty,  if  no  soul 
Makes  the  draught  live  ?    You  bargain  for  a 

bHss, 
But  no  bliss  from  a  bargain  ever  came. 
That  bHss  may  be  too  sudden,  may  be  slow, 
Howe'er  it  come  ;  but  it  is  thoughten  wise, 
Not  planned,  not  calculated  ;  be  it  sin 


54  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Or  fire  of  angels,  not  this  way  it  comes, 
Nor  ever  hath  :  now  to  thy  hps  I  yield 
My  own,  but  with  a  cold  laugh  in  my  soul, 
Or  else  in  dreadful  thought  thy  kiss  I  take. 
Now  thou  art  master  ;  thy  brief  hour  demand  ! 
But  had  I  loved  thee,  Pietro,  not  this  way 
Would  I  have  clasped  thee,  but  in  sacred  fire. 
And  then  shouldst  thou  have  tasted  of  deep 

life; 
Then  not  of  flesh  but  of  the  endless  soul. 
But  since  this  is  so  and  this  world  endures, 

[Taking  the  dagger  from  her  breast. 

Let  Luigi  die  !  let  him  cease  !  and  I  with  him. 

Pietro.     [Snatching    the    dagger  from    her 

hand.]     Gemma   Gonzaga,   can  you   not 

beheve 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  55 

Your  words  have  shaken  into  me  a  soul  ? 
What  was  a  furious  sport  proposed,  is  now 
The  mighty  meaning  of  a  changed  hfe. 
Oh,  it  is  true,  most  true,  that  I  had  planned 
To  use  the  seat  of  justice  for  thy  lips. 
So  have  I  loved  :  not  here  nor  there  alone, 
But  everywhere  pursuing  my  own  prey. 
So  have  I  foiled  my  soldiers,  and  made  vain 
Cities  besieged,  for  lure  of  some  fair  face. 
But  now  your  revelation  breaks  on  me  ; 
Even  your  sneer  subUme  and  starry  scorn 
Has  taken  from  my  feet  the  under-world. 
I  would  be  what  you  say  I  cannot  be  : 
Not  with  the  ape-like  wooing  as  of  old, 
But  as  a  spirit  suing  thee  through  stars. 


56  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Gemma,  here  I  discard   the   "  whence "  we 

came, 
And  I  pursue  the  "  whither  "  we  are  bound. 
I'll  lose  thee  not  through  too  much  lust  of  thee  ; 
Now  if  thou  wouldst,  I  would  not  what  I 

dreamed. 
I  see  a  distant  pleasure  deeper  far. 
For  —  if  you  will,  I'll  wed  you  without  pause  ; 
And  with  the  Hght  of  children's  faces  we, 
Not  worse  for  this  encounter,  will  deserve 
The  falling  sunset  and  the  coming  star, 
And  you  perhaps  shall  smilingly  recall 
This  plunge  for  beauty  which  hath  ended  sweet. 
Say,  will  you  wed  me  —  kiss  me  and  speak  not. 
Gemma.     I  say  no  word  but  give  to  you  my 

Hps. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  57 

But  ah,  my  brother  !  faint  the  dawn  comes  on, 
But  it  is  dawn. 

PiETRO.  [Sounding  gong  and  writing.]  Re- 
lease on  the  instant  Luigi  Gonzaga,  imprisoned 
by  my  order  in  the  prison  of  Faenza. 

(Signed)  Pietro  Tornielli. 
[A  servant  enters. 
Ride  with  this  and  ride  fast. 
[Exit  servant  with  the  written  order. 
Now  comes  the  golden  morning  on  us  two, 
And  never  a  drop  of  dew  that  she  bestows 
Is  like  unto  that  dew  that  falls  from  you. 
Here  is  my  fury  ended  and  wild  hours. 

Gemma.     I  love  you  more  than  if  your  suit 
had  been 
Pale,  without  fault,  for  I  believe  that  he 


S8  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Who  once  has  wrongly  burned  can  change 

that  fire 
Into  a  radiance  but  to  spirits  clear. 

[He  kisses  her  as  the  curtain  descends. 


ACT   III 

SUNRISE 


SCENE  I 

Scene.  —  The  prison  of  Faenza;  Luigi  alone. 
The  dawn  is  approaching. 

Luigi.    The  dawn,  the  dawn  !    Now  when 
all  wakes  to  life, 
I  wake  to  death.     When  all  revives,  I  die. 
This  freshness  and  the  coming  colour  make 
The  faint  grave  worse.   Oh,  but  to  die  at  dawn  ! 
At  midnight,  yes !   but  not  when  the  world 

stirs, 
When  the  Creator  reassures  the  earth,' 
And  reappears  in  balm  out  of  the  East. 
Now  I  must  give  up  life,  now  when  the  bird 

6i 


62  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Resumes  its  carol  and  the  old  music  makes, 
Now  must  I  go  to  silence  ;  never  there 
The  twitter  of  the  brown  bird  in  the  leaves, 
Nor  rustle  of  foliage  there,  nor  flushing  sky. 

[He  rises  and  walks  restlessly  to  and  fro. 
Now  the  bright  river-fish  leaps  to  the  light. 
Now  creatures  of  the  field  bestir  them,  and 

speak 
With  mellow  sound  in  twilight  of  the  farm, 
And  shrilly  Chanticleer  proclaims  the  day. 
Now  the  rose  lifts  her  from  a  weight  of  dew. 
Or  raises  her  red  bosom  from  the  rain, 
And  many  a  pale  flower  from  dark  ground  re- 
vives. 
Not  far  away,  so  little  a  space  away. 
Many  a  garden  freshened  by  night's  cloud. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  63 

Suspires  its  various  odours  from  the  earth, 
And  Nature  sighing  from  good  sleep  awakes. 
The  sea  is  conscious  of  the  invisible  orb, 
Revisiting  in  glory  her  faint  flood. 
The  stars  are  gone,  and  balm  breaks  on  the 
world. 

[He  sits  again. 
And  in  this  moment  I  must  yield  my  breath. 

[Starting  up  again. 
And  now  not  only  Nature  shakes  off  sleep. 
But  now  the  labourer  to  the  field  repairs 
To  dig  the  sweet  earth,  or  to  clip  the  hedge, 
Or  through  the  furrow  follow  on  the  plough. 
Now  wakes  the  young  wiie,  and  but  half -awake 
Kisses  the  dreaming  babe  beside  her  laid. 
While  all  her  deep  heart  murmurs  in  its  ear. 


64  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

The  soldier  starts  up  to  the  trumpet-call ; 
The   shopman   takes   the    shutter   from    the 

shop, 
And  in  the  window  carefully  displays 
His  wares ;    the  trim  girl  unto  market  trips ; 
And  many  a  memory  stares  up  at  the  sun. 
And  he  who  rides,  and  would  the  morning  take, 
To  saddle  springs,  or  he  the  morning  dew 
On  foot  meets  gladly ;  sweetly  comes  the  day 
To  the  sea-weary,  watchers  stung  with  brine ; 
News  of  the  absent  to  the  bed  is  brought. 
Letters  from  children  in  a  world  far-off. 
And  whether  sad  or  sweet  the  world  awake 
Whirls  with  a  million  graves  about  the  sun. 
Life,  life  begins  !     And  I  this  hour  must  die. 

[Still  walking  to  and  fro. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  65 

And  who  knows  that  we  cease  who  seem  to 

cease  ? 
If  I  must  answer,  ere  the  dawn  is  full, 
For  all  my  faults  and  folly,  and  to  whom  ? 
Haled  before  him  who  made  us,  or  to  view 
A  heavy  river  rolling  amid  souls, 
Or  to  remember  in  an  outer  dark  ? 
Life  !    Hfe  !    I  cannot  die,  I  dare  not  die, 
And  yonder  cloud  is  slowly  reddening  ! 
She,  too,  she  comes  not,  though  she  heard  my 

fate ; 
I  am  by  all  deserted  and  bereft. 
O  Gemma,  sister,  you,  you  then  at  least 
Might  for  the  last  time  round  me  throw  your 

arms. 
Giving  the  extreme  kiss  before  my  doom  ; 

F 


66  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

But  I  must  go  to  what  I  fear  alone. 

[A  knock  is  heard  at  the  door.     Enter  the 
Jailor,  accompanied  by  the  Execu- 
tioner and  an  Assistant. 
Jailor.     Luigi  Gonzaga,  are  you  now  pre- 
pared ? 
Or  will  you  see  a  priest,  and  in  his  ear 
Confess  and  with  a  lighter  bosom  die  ? 
Luigi.    Is  not  my  sister  here  ?   has  she  not 
sent 
A  word,  a  little  word  ?     I  cannot  think 
That  she  will  let  me  die  in  such  a  silence. 
Jailor.     She  is  not  here,  and  she  has  sent 

no  word. 
Luigi.    Oh,  but  she  might !    It  is  not  yet 
too  late. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  67 

Give  me  a  little  more  of  time  to  breathe  ; 
She  would  not  let  me  perish  who  so  long 
Has  grown  with  me  and  loved  me  :  I  but  ask 
A  little  space  to  see  her  once,  or  hear 
Her  voice :  —  is  this  unnatural  ?   If  'twere 
One  to  whom  passion  drew  me,  even  thus 
Leave  would  be  given,  but  my  sister,  sure 
You'll  not  refuse  to  me  a  brief  delay? 

Jailor.     I  have  no  order,  and  I  have  no 
leave 
To  grant  delay  :  immediate  is  my  task, 
And  theirs  who  now  await  you. 

LuiGi.  Grant  me  then 

A  cup  of  wine  :  this  is  allowed  ;  then,  then 
I'll  make  no  more  delay  :  a  cup  of  wine, 
The  last  cup  ! 


68  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Jailor.     You  shall  have  this  ;  but  no  more 
Then  can  you  tarry,  or  by  force  we  bear  you 
To  execution.     [To  Assistant.]     Fetch  a  cup 
of  wine.  [Exit  Assistant. 

LuiGi.     I  cannot  think  why  Gemma  all  this 
while 
Holds  off  from  me ;  she  surely,  if  none  else, 
Would  say  farewell ;  ah,  strange  her  silence  is. 
[Enter  Assistant  with  cup  of  wine,  which 
he  gives  into  the  hands  of  LuiGi. 
Now  for  the  last  time  do  I  taste  of  thee, 
Juice  of  the  grape  ;  I  drink  my  final  cup. 

[He  drinks. 
Ah,  but  the  joy  of  life  from  this  last  draught 
Runs  stronger  through  my  veins,  and  takes  my 
heart, 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  69 

And  now  than  ever  more  impossible 
It  seems  to  die;  I  cannot,  will  not  cease, 
With  this  red  liquor  dancing  thro'  my  blood. 
If  you  must  kill  me,  it  must  be  by  force, 
I'll  not  be  tamely  haled  by  you  along. 
But  ah,  can  you  not  spare  me  a  short  while  ; 
Look,  I  have  money  ;  you,  all  three  of  you. 
Shall  live  at  ease  if  only  I  may  breathe  ; 
Then  hide  me  in  this  dungeon,  and  give  out 
That  I  am  dead,  I  will  reward  you  well. 
You  have  no  grudge  against  me ;   one  of  you 
Hide  me  and  take  the  price  ! 

Jailor.  Seize  him  at  once, 

Bear  him  without,  and  as  the  law  enjoins. 
Do  with  him  :  we  have  heard  enough  of  speech. 
I  will  not  lose  my  office  for  soft  talk. 


70  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

EXECUTIONEP..      Nor  I. 

Assistant.  Nor  I. 

Jailor.  Then  bear  him  quickly  out ! 

[They  advance  on  Luigi    and   seize   him, 
when  there  is  heard  approaching  the  gal- 
loping sound  of  a  horse's  hoofs. 
Luigi.    Listen !    a  horse's  hoofs,  and  here 
they  stop  ! 

[There  is   a  commotion  outside  and  a 
Messenger    rushes    in,     breathless, 
with  a  paper. 
Messenger.    This  from  Pietro  Tomielli, 
straight 
Dispatched. 

Jailor.    [Opening  and  reading]    Gonzaga,  you 
are  free  forthwith. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  71 

LuiGi.  Free,  free ! 

Jailor.    We  have  no  further  leave  to  keep 
you; 
There  is  the  door  —  and  there  the  world  again. 
LuiGi.     But,  but ! 

Jailor.        The  reason  of  this  freedom  find 
Without  these  walls;  we  have  but  to  obey. 
LuiGi.     And  yet  I  cannot  — 

[A  further  noise  without,  then  Pulci  and 
Carlo  rush  into  the  prison, 
Pulci.  Luigi,  you  are  freed. 

So  much  we  heard  and  from  the  horseman 
learned. 

[Exeunt  the  Executioner  and  Assistant. 
Jailor.     I  wish  you  well,  sir.     What  I  said 
I  said 


72  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Because  it  is  my  office  —  fare  you  well. 

LuiGi.     But  I  am  lost  in  this  —  farewell, 

good  fellow.  [Exit  Jailor. 

And  you  two  have  no  joy  in  those  your  eyes ; 
We  have  been  friends  —  how  long  ?     Yet  you 

nm  hither, 
Bringing  me  hfe  and  news  of  liberty,  * 

With  no  wild  word  or  clasp  of  sudden  hand. 
Nor  steady  grip,  nor  look  of  eye  to  eye. 
Well,    I    am    freed  —  ah,    God  !  —  I    should 

rejoice ! 
Thou  soaring  sun,  I  come  to  thee  again 
To  revel  in  thy  splendour  !     I  am  given 
Back  once  agaui  to  colour  and  the  dew. 
Well,  let  us  quit  this  place ;  come,  come,  my 

friends. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  73 

Yet,  yet  —  again  I  say  you  seem  to  grieve 
That  I  am  snatched    thus  from  the  dismal 

grave. 
Is  my  Kfe  hateful  to  you,  thus  restored  ? 
Speak,  men,  speak  !     There  is  some  lurking 

cause 
For  such  a  funeral  greeting  from  the  tomb. 
You,    Carlo,    if    not    Pulci,    speak    straight 

out! 

Carlo.    Luigi,  you  cannot  think  we  are  not 
glad. 
We  two  of  all  Siena,  to  behold  you 
Now  freed,  and  passing  to  the  outer  air. 
Luigi.     Yet    still    I    say    that    something 
lurks  behind, 
And  I  myself  am  not  less  guilty  now 


74  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Than    when    committed  —  what    my    crimes 

were  then 
Are  now  my  crimes  no  less  —  yet  I  am  freed. 

PuLCi.     Luigi,  the  prison  door  is  open  now 
Because  your  sister,  in  the  deep  of  night, 
So  is  it  said,  for  your  sake  yielded  her 
To  Pietro  Tornielli. 

Luigi.  Ah,  my  God  ! 

No,  no,  I'll  not  take  life  upon  these  terms. 
I  am  shaken   through   all  my  being,   I  am 

changed ; 
Where  once  I  cowered,  now  I  cower  no  more. 
She,  she  —  she  knew  I  would  not  have  this 

bargain. 
Now  I  will  put  my  freedom  to  some  use. 
Call  up  our  friends,  however  few  they  be. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  75 

And  I  will  storm  the  palace  and  demand 
My  death.     I'll  ask  it  as  a  boon,  as  once 
Life  I  demanded.     Ah,  I  loathe  to  breathe, 
And  the  great  sun  is  blackening  in  the  heaven. 
Come  with  me,  come  ! 

PuLCi.  Some  friends  we  have  without 

Already ;  more  will  join  us  as  we  go. 

LuiGi.    On  to  the  palace !    on  !    And  let 
me  die ! 


SCENE  II 

Scene.  —  A  hall  in  the  palace  of  the  Gonzaga. 

There  is  a  sound  of  mutiny  outside,  and  as  the 

curtain  rises  Anselmo  breaks  in  accompanied 

by  others  of  the  troops,  while  sullen  shouts  are 

heard  from  outside. 

Anselmo.    He  is  not  here;  he  spends  the 
hours  with  her. 
Sirs,  let  us  force  these  doors  and  slay  the  man 
Who  has  betrayed  us  for  a  woman's  eyes. 
My  sword  is  drawn  ! 

Another.  And  mine. 

Another.  We'll  follow  you. 

[Enter  Pietro. 

PiETRO.    Now,  sirs ! 

76 


PIETRO  OF   SIENA  77 

Anselmo.  Pietro  Tornielli,  we 

Have  heard  a  rumour  thro'  Siena  flying 
That  not  alone  the  sister's  Hfe  is  spared, 
But  that,  in  hot  desire  for  her,  the  brother 
Too  you  have  spared,  whom  we  all  heard 

condemned 
Out  of  your  own  mouth  !    So,  then,  we  must 

fight, 
And  follow  you  through  peril  and  through 

death. 
Only  at  last  to  be  confronted  thus ; 
Our    swords    are    nothing    'gainst    a    lady's 

eyes. 
Our  faith  is  nothing  'gainst  our  leader's  lust, 

[Angry  murmurs. 
Our  services  as  air  against  her  kiss. 


78  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Thus  then  I  speak,  and  speaking  speak  for 

all  — 
Either  we  slay  thee  or  we  leave  thee  here 
To  riot  and  to  passion  and  to  wine. 
But  if  I  cannot  for  old  memory 
Plunge  in  thy  heart  this  sword,  I'll  never  draw 
In  such  a  cause  again.     I'll  not  be  fooled, 

[Angry  shouts. 
To  fight  and  find  all  lost  at  last  for  lust. 
So,  Tornielli,  fare  you  well  for  ever. 

[He  is  about  to  exit  when  Luigi,  after  much 

commotion,  hursts  into  the  hall,  followed 

by  a  retinue  of  followers. 

Luigi.    Now,  Pietro  Tornielh,  face  to  face 

We  stand.     I  owe  my  freedom  to  your  will ; 

I  am  set  free  —  no  cause  assigned,  but  freed. 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  79 

Why  then  ?     My  sister's  honour  ! 

[Pointing  to  his  sister. 
And  do  you  think 
That  for  the  madness  of  a  night  with  her 
Whom  I  have  worshipped  Uke  the  blessed  saint, 
Whose  very  tears  were  holy  water,  her  blood 
The  very  wine  we  drink  not  if  we  sin  — 
You  think  I'll  take  my  life  for  such  a  fee  ? 
Oh,  I  was  craven,  I  deny  it  not ; 
Here  was  the  chance,  then,  here  the  basest  lure 
Ever  proposed  within  a  woman's  ear  — 
She  should  submit  to  you  and  I  go  free  ! 
No,  death  a  thousand  times,  and  death  again  ! 
I'll  not  contaminate  the  air  henceforth. 
And  all  shall  cry  "  See,  Luigi  walks  abroad 
Freed  by  his  sister's  soil !"     If  you  will  fight, 


8o  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

Then   let  us  fight   and  without   pause,  and 

now  ; 
If  not,  I  give  myself  again  to  death. 

[A  door  is  thrown  open  and  Gemma  comes 
in,  PiETRO  taking  her  hand. 
You,  Gemma,  though  some  may  applaud  this 

act, 
I  loathe  you  for  it  and  for  evermore. 
Ah  !  but  perhaps  it  was  no  martyrdom  ! 
Perhaps  the  sacrifice  came  easily. 
Perhaps  — 
PrETRO.     Enough   is   said.       Now   I   will 

speak. 
Luigi  Gonzaga,  and  Anselmo  there, 
It   is   most   true   that  what  you  here   have 

charged 

G 


PIETRO  OF  SIENA  8i 

.  Against  me  I  did  plan  and  did  intend. 

[Murmurs. 
That  fault  is  in  my  blood.     But  here  I  make 
A  holy  oath,  before  all  saints  in  heaven, 
That  she,  this  lady,  stands  by  me  untouched, 
That  she  is  pure  as  ever  without  spot. 
Rather  would  she  have  killed  me  or  herself 
Than  so  submitted  even  for  such  a  cause  ; 
But  I,  who  have  so  played  the  game  of  love, 
Am  won  to  something  nobler  at  the  last : 
To-day  I  make  this  lady  my  true  wife. 

Gemma.     Luigi,  I  should  have  died  ere  this 
I  did.  [Murmurs  of  astonishment. 

Peetro.     Her  brother,  who  has  thus  refused 
his  life, 
Knowing  the  truth  will  not  refuse  it  more. 


82  PIETRO  OF  SIENA 

A  golden  morning  on  us  all  descends, 
And  I  foresee  a  golden  morning  wax 
Into  a  deeper  life  between  us  two, 
Bringing  not  bloodshed  nor  old  enmity, 
But  on  our  houses  and  Siena  peace. 

Curtain 


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